Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 17 augusT 2017
Family: FBI knew Oklahoma plot suspect is schizophrenic

By TIM TALLEY tics undercover FBI agents not have the resources FBI spokeswoman Jessica fense attorney, Terri Coulter
Associated Press used to arrest 23-year-old to carry out such an act Rice in Oklahoma City and of Oklahoma City, declined
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Jerry Drake Varnell. He was alone, according to the Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott comment.
The family of a man ac- taken into custody early family’s statement. Williams declined com- Varnell “has suffered
cused of attempting to Saturday for the alleged “The FBI came and picked ment Wednesday. through countless serious
detonate what he believed plot to detonate a vehicle him up from our home, they A federal detention hear- full-blown schizophrenic
was an explosives-laden bomb in an alley adjacent gave him a vehicle, gave ing for Varnell is scheduled delusional episodes and he
van outside an Oklahoma to BancFirst in downtown him a fake bomb, and ev- on Aug. 22. has been put in numerous
bank says he is a paranoid Oklahoma City. ery means to make this If convicted of attempt- mental hospitals since he
schizophrenic and that the Varnell, who lives with his happen,” the statement ing to use explosives to de- was 16 years old,” the fam-
FBI knew it. mother and stepfather in said, adding that authori- stroy a building in interstate ily’s statement said. It add-
Clifford and Melonie Var- Sayre, about 130 miles (209 ties “should not have aided commerce, Varnell could ed that his parents are his
nell, of Sayre, Oklahoma, is- kilometers) west of Okla- and abetted a paranoid receive five to 20 years in legal guardians and do all
sued a statement late Tues- homa City, is jobless due to schizophrenic to commit prison. they can “to keep him safe
day that questions the tac- his schizophrenia and does this act.” His court-appointed de- and functional.”q
Maryland judge denies DC sniper Malvo’s bid for new sentence

By ALANNA RICHER later struck plea deals in
Associated Press other cases in Virginia and
Lee Boyd Malvo, who as Maryland.
a teenager participated All told, he received four
in the sniper attacks that life-without-parole terms
killed 10 people and ter- in Virginia and six in Mary-
rorized the Washington land.
region, will not get a new Malvo’s Maryland attor-
sentence in Maryland, a ney argued that his sen-
judge said in a ruling re- tences should be thrown
leased Wednesday. out because the Supreme
Malvo’s attorneys had Court concluded juveniles
challenged his life sen- shouldn’t be sent to prison
tences in Maryland and for life without the possibil-
in Virginia, citing a recent ity of parole except in rare
U.S. Supreme Court ruling circumstances in which a
that said mandatory life- judge deems that they are
without-parole sentences “irreparably corrupt.”
for juveniles are unconsti- But Greenberg sided with
tutional. The latest ruling prosecutors who said that
means he will essentially ruling doesn’t apply in
continue serving a life sen- In this Oct. 26, 2004 photo, Lee Boyd Malvo enters a courtroom in the Spotsylvania, Va., Circuit Maryland because judges
tence even though a dif- Court. Malvo, convicted of taking part as a teenager in deadly sniper attacks that terrorized the are not required to impose
ferent judge ruled he is en- Washington area in 2002 lost a bid Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017, for a new sentence in Maryland. life without parole.
titled to a new sentencing (Mike Morones/The Free Lance-Star via AP) Even if Malvo’s punishment
in Virginia. was mandatory, the judge
“The six consecutive life- cuit Court Judge Robert Maryland and the District Muhammad, in 2009. who sentenced the man
without-parole sentences Greenberg wrote. of Columbia. Malvo, now A Virginia jury convicted “considered all relevant
were imposed after a full Malvo was 17 when he 32, is serving his sentence Malvo of capital murder in factors at play and the
consideration of Defen- was arrested for participat- at Red Onion State Prison in 2003 for killing FBI analyst plain import of his words at
dant’s physical, mental ing in the sniper attacks southwest Virginia. Linda Franklin, who was the time was that Defen-
and emotional state,” that killed 10 people and Virginia executed Malvo’s shot in the head outside a dant is ‘irreparably corrupt-
Montgomery County Cir- wounded three in Virginia, accomplice, John Allen Home Depot store. Malvo ed,’” Greenberg wrote.q

Ohio man accused of plotting US attacks asks for leniency

By ANDREW HUGGINS turn home, according to a mansky argues. sentence. They say Mo- filing. After becoming radi-
Associated Press court filing this week. “Mohamud urges the Court hamud tried to cover up calized in Syria, Mohamud
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A Back in the U.S., Moham- to consider his rejection of dangerous terrorist activ- returned home planning
man charged with plot- ud “realized the immoral terrorist ideology as it fash- ity, including after his arrest. “grievous harm” for which
ting to kill military members and illegal nature of terror- ions a sentence that pro- Sentencing is set for Friday. he recruited others, Squires
in the U.S. after receiving ist ideology,” his attorney, motes respect for the law,” Recorded jail telephone said. “Once caught, he
overseas training is asking Sam Shamansky, said in the Shamansky said. calls between Mohamud orchestrated a cover-up
for leniency at sentencing, Monday court filing. Court documents unsealed and a person close to him beginning with his material
saying he abandoned his “He rejected the radical earlier this summer show reveal he told others “to misstatements to the FBI,”
plans for the attack. notions he had previously Mohamud, 25, pleaded keep their mouths shut,” he said.
In making his argument, embraced and had com- guilty almost two years assistant federal prosecu- Court documents say that
Abdirahman Sheik Mo- pletely abandoned any ago to terrorism charges. tor Doug Squires said in in 2014, Mohamud ob-
hamud acknowledges that plans to engage in terror- The government hasn’t ex- a court filing. “Mohamud tained a passport to trav-
he became radicalized af- ism by the end of Novem- plained why the plea deal characterized the situation el to Greece but instead
ter traveling to Syria in the ber of 2014,” the filing said. was sealed for so long. as a ‘domino effect, and if went to Syria for training
spring of 2014 and that he As a result, a lengthy prison Federal prosecutors want a one falls, everyone falls,’” and expressed a desire to
recruited others on his re- term isn’t necessary, Sha- judge to impose a 23-year Squires said in the Monday die fighting there.q